NaVualiku, the Fiji Tourism Development Programme for Vanua Levu, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at Wasawasa Lodge in Savusavu on Friday. This initiative, a project of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, is backed by funding from the World Bank.
Mr. Rabuka emphasized that the initiative, which includes a strategic financial partnership with the World Bank, goes beyond a mere financial transaction. He noted that the World Bank has pledged $400 million over the next ten years to foster economic growth in the Northern Division.
“We are dedicated to developing Vanua Levu into a vibrant tourism center that encourages economic progress, generates meaningful jobs, and entices both local and international investments,” Mr. Rabuka stated. He underscored the importance of tourism in driving the economy, citing recent statistics from the Reserve Bank of Fiji that demonstrated strong visitor arrivals, with nearly 100,000 in July and over 94,000 in August.
These figures, he added, signify Fiji’s enduring appeal to holidaymakers, business travelers, and those visiting friends and family. “Improving tourism in the North will create jobs, stimulate local businesses, and infuse vital investment into the region,” he declared.
Mr. Rabuka explained that the development initiative aims to establish the necessary infrastructure and services to attract more tourists to the Northern Division, sharing the advantages of the flourishing tourism sector.
He noted that the programme would generate jobs, enhance local businesses, and present new opportunities to every family. “In the Northern Division, the poverty rate stands at approximately 29%, with most affected individuals residing in rural areas,” he said. “While the Northern Division boasts the lowest multidimensional poverty rate at 26% in the country, we still have progress to make in elevating all citizens out of poverty and toward a better quality of life.”
Sustainable tourism development for the North was also addressed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka, who pointed out that areas like Nadi, Denarau, Yasawas, Mamanucas, and the Coral Coast account for about 80% of all visitors, whereas the North attracts only around four percent. This disparity, he noted, emphasizes the untapped potential of Vanua Levu that the NaVualiku programme seeks to unlock.
The ministry aims to improve the citizens’ quality of life while mobilizing infrastructure. Various ministers, including Sakiasi Ditoka (Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management), Agni Deo Singh (Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations), Ifereimi Vasu (Minister for iTaukei Affairs), and Maciu Nalumisa (Minister for Housing and Local Government), were in attendance at the launch.
Additionally, Mr. Rabuka is set to open the NaVualiku project office at JKS Holdings Building in Savusavu on Saturday. Stefano Mocci, the World Bank Group country manager for Fiji, remarked that this approach is a first for any single country in the Pacific, demonstrating the group’s confidence in Fiji’s ability to execute such a complex and ambitious programme effectively.